Tailpiece for stringed musical instruments



'May27, 1930. F. J. CALLIER 1,760,343

TAILPIECE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed May 12, 1928 1'11.("allier INVENTOR BY-J/j- W ATTOR Patented May 27, 1930 PATENT ()FFICEFRANK J. GALLIER, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS TAILPIECE FOE STBINGED MUSICALINSTRUMENTS Application filed May 12, 1928. Serial No. 277,219.

This invention relates to stringed musical instruments and morespecifically to an im proved tail piece attaching means.

The invention forming the subject of this application aims to provide anovel form of anchoring means by which the effective length of theattaching cable may be varied as the occasion requires and by which theanchoring cable may be securely connected to the tail piece.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tail piece anchoringmeans of highly simplified construction and which is durable in use andcheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a perspective of a violin equipped with the improved tailpiece anchoring means,

Figure 2 is a perspective of a tail piece and the improved. anchoringmeans therefor,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of tail piece and theimproved anchoring means therefor,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view illustrating a slightmodification of the invention.

In the drawin the numeral 5 designates the body of a violin, although itis to be un derstood this point that the invention forming the subjectof this application is not restricted to use in connection with violins,but may be carried out with other stringed musical instruments, such ascellos.

The violin is provided with the usual strings 6 extended across thebridge 7 and suitably anchored to the tail piece 8.

As previously suggested, the invention forming the subject of thisoplication resides in an inneroved means by which the tail piece may beconnected to the body 5 in this connection attention invited to Figure 1which illustrates that an attaching cable 9 is extended from the tailpiece and has connection with an end pin 10.

In carrying out the form of invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3the tail piece is provided with a transverse member or rib 2longitudinally bored for the reception of the sides of the attachingcable 9. Of course, the attaching cable may be of any desired material,such as stranded flexible wire, and the intermediate portion of theattaching cable is received within the recessed under side of the tailpiece as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 3 illustrates that the head portion of the end pin 10 is providedwith transverse diverging openings or passages 16 adapted for thereception of the terminal portions of the cable 9.

Figure 2 admirably illustrates that the head portion of the end pin 10is annularly grooved for the reception of the adj acent portions of thecable 9. It will be seen that the cable 9 is extended along oppositesides of the head portion 10 and is provided with return bends by whichthe terminals of the cable are directed back through the openings 16. Itwill be observed that the openings 16 diverge from the inlet endsthereof so that the bend of the cable terminals is greatly increased.This hrings about a better binding action of the cable with the end pin.Of course, when the strings 6 are tightened, the cable 9 will be drawntaut as shown in Figure 1 and portions or" the cable will be receivedwithin the annularly grooved portion of the end pin.

It will be seen that the extreme terminals of the cable 9 are confinedbetween the sides of the cable and are therefore prevented from cominginto destructive contact with the violin and are at the same timeprevented from engaging and possibly tearing the clothes of a musician.

With the terminals of the cable 9 thus anchored to the end pin 10,slippage of the cable with respect to the end pin is avoided.Furthermore, by the employment of an attaching cable of stranded wire orother moisture resisting material deterioration and breakage of thecable is avoided.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figure l, the tail piece 20 isprovided in the having under side thereof with a recess across which atransverse bridge or rib 22 extends. The rib is longitudinally bored asindicated. at 24: for the reception of the sides of the cable 26. Theterminals of the cable 26 are provided with return bends and aredirected into the openings 24 into pressure contact with the adjacentportions of the cable so that slippage of the cable is positivelyprevented. More specifically, the terminal of one side of the cable isformed with a return bend and is forced into the opening receiving theother side of the cable so that the loop is effectively closed at itspoint of connection with the tail piece.

Of course, in use of the form of invention shown in Figure 4 the loop orattaching member 26 is merely extended about'the end pin in anchoringthe engagement therewith.

The foregoing illustrates that the invention forming the subject of thisapplication is capable of a wide variety of mechanical expressions andit is therefore to be understood that the forms of invention herewithshown and described are to be taken merely as preferred examples of thesame and that such minor changes in arrangement and construction ofparts may be made as will remain within the spirit of the invention andthe scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a stringed musical instrument, a tail piece, a cable connected tothe tail piece and terminal portions, and an end pin having divergingopenings receiving the terminal portions of said cable.

2. In a stringed musical instrument, a tail piece, a cable connected tothe tail piece and having terminal portions, and an end pin havingdiverging openings receiving the terminal portions of said cable, saidcable being extended across opposite sides of the end pin and havingreturn bends directing the terminals of the cable through said divergingopenings.

3. In a stringed musical instrument, an end pin having transverseopenings and an external annular groove, and an attaching cable partlyreceived in said annular groove and having return bends directing theterminals of the cable through said transverse openings, the extremeterminals of the cable being confined between the or portions of thecable.

4. In a stringed musical instrument, an end pin havin transversepassages, and an attaching cable having sides extended across oppositesides of said end pin and having return bends directing portions of thecable through said passages, the terminals of said cable be ing confinedbetween the sides of the cable.

5. In a stringed'nnisical instrument, a tail piece having transversemember formed with substantially parallel openings, and an attachingcable having sides extending through said openings and having returnbends directing the terminal portions of the cable backwardly throughsaid openings into pressure engagement with the adjacent portions of thecable.

6. In a stringed musical instrument, a tail piece having laterallyspaced openings, and a cable extended through said openings, oneterminal portion of the cable being formed with a return bend directingthat terminal portion of the cable backwardly into one of the openingsand into pressure engagement with the cable, there being means securingthe other terminal portion of the cable to said tail piece.

In testimony whereof I athx my signature.

FRANK J. CALLIER.

